1980 Ford Escort GL Mk2 review from Australia and New Zealand

The clutch had started slipping soon after I bought it. It was replaced and I haven't had a problem with it since.

The welsh plugs were rusted out on purchase. This is a cheap fix as the engine does not have to be removed from the bay as with some other vehicles.

The exhaust headers had rusted through completely.

Water leak behind dashboard.

The drivers side internal door handle is not functioning. The connecting rod to the latch had snapped, something to be wary of as parts are near impossible to find.

The drivers side window winder seal disconnected from the window. This is an easy and cheap fix.

The radiator needed to be re-cored.

I really loved driving this car, it is fun and the handling is very responsive. The four speed gearbox is a real pleasure, I have driven many different manual vehicles, but the shift on the Escort is perfect. No to slushy and not to clunky.

The engine is very poky and has quality power for a 2.0 four cylinder. Unfortunately it loves to burn oil and although this hasn't caused me any problems, leaving the car trailing in a cloud of smoke is a little embarassing. Be sure to regularly check the oil.

You will be hard pressed to find an Escort devoid of rust, the areas you should check are in between the roof and front quarter panels, under the carpet of the driver and passenger side (you may find the floor is badly deteriorated here, also check that the carpet is not wet) and around the boot.

When I originally bought the car it was extremely prone to overheating, but after the radiator had been re-cored it was never a problem. The radiators are quite small so it is important that they are working well.

The interior is in very poor condition, the seats and dashboard are cracked, the carpets do not sit right and the heating does not function at all. The guages all work fine and funnily enough the cigarette lighter is in perfect working order.

All in all I have been quite happy with the Escort and while I will soon be putting it out to pasture, I will be sorry to see it go. If however I was in the market for an Escort I would be looking for a car to restore not as something to drive on a regular basis.